No fewer than seven individuals lost their lives and a significant number are lost in the wake of a vessel transporting approximately 200 people seeking to enter European shores capsized in waters near The Gambia, reports confirm.
The craft flipped on Wednesday midnight near Jinack village in the North Bank Region and it was later found "beached on a shoal", the country's defence ministry said in a statement.
Ninety-six people were pulled to safety and a hunt is ongoing for other passengers who were on board the capsized craft that was en route to the Canary Islands of Spain.
The perilous journey over the Atlantic has emerged as a rising pathway for African migrants seeking entry into European nations.
Nearly 47,000 people made it to the Canary Islands in 2024 and estimates more than 9,000 migrants perished in the attempt.
Search and Rescue Efforts
After Wednesday's accident, Gambia's naval forces launched a rescue mission, deploying multiple navy ships and a commercial fishing craft that joined the effort, the defense officials confirmed.
Officials state some of the deceased are foreign nationals and that their nationalities are still under confirmation.
The bodies of the seven individuals who perished at sea have been recovered, and 10 of those rescued are described as being in grave health and getting immediate medical attention.
A Common Migration Route
The Gambia is a frequent corridor taken by migrants seeking to get to Europe, often on perilous trips over water and land.
In recent years, the European bloc has established pacts with multiple North African nations aimed at limiting undocumented migration.
